Hard Choices

Paul Scalise, a supporter of nuclear power, addresses the challenges facing Japanese energy policy following the Fukushima disaster. He begins by acknowledging the massive change in public opinion on nuclear power, even pointing out Son's solar belt as one of the most popular new proposals. However, he questions whether a shift away from nuclear power will put Japan on a sustainable path: “Can Japan achieve a nuclear-free society without risk of rolling blackouts? Are energy security and environmental sustainability fundamentally compatible or mutually exclusive? Is economic efficiency still possible in an energy market that also promotes and subsidizes renewable energy sources?” Scalise reminds us that public opinion should not always dictate policy. Instead, he urges, majority rule should be set aside for what is best for Japan, even if this option may be unpopular

Fukushima Nuclear Accident · Nuclear energy policy · Nuclear physics · Nuclear power · Physics · Political science · Korean Peninsula Historical and Political Studies · Risk Perception and Management